Kellyanne Conway may have broken federal law by plugging Ivanka's products

By Stephanie Coombes| 3 years ago

President Trump's senior advisor, Kellyanne Conway, has been "counselled" after she urged Americans to "go buy Ivanka's stuff".

White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters today that Conway had been spoken to about the incident, but offered no further comment.

Legal experts said Conway's comments on Fox and Friends breached ethical guidelines, which are in place to stop those in public office from endorsing products.

Conway landed in hot water after she spoke of the growing list of retailers refusing to stock Ivanka's brand.

Conway called Ivanka a "very successful business woman" and a "champion for women empowerment" before she endorsed the products.

"Go buy Ivanka's stuff, is what I would tell you, I hate shopping but I'm going to get some for myself today," Conway said.

"It's a wonderful line. I own some of it. I'm just going to give it a free commercial here - go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online."

According to American federal law, public employees are not allowed to use their position "for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity".

The House Oversight chairman Jason Chaffetz also entered the discussion, telling the Associated Press that Conway's endorsement was "clearly over the line" and "unacceptable".

The unfolding drama is the result of luxury department store Nordstrom's announcement it would no longer stock Ivanka's products.

The company said the decision was based on poor sales, and made no comment about any political motivation behind the decision.

President Trump slammed the move on Twitter.

"My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by Nordstrom. She is a great person - always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!"